Alex Garland Delivers Another Great Sci-Fi Thriller With Annihilation
The last couple of years have seen a resurgence in very smart and mature science-fiction films. Most notably, films like Interstellar, Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 have pushed boundaries, while franchise favorites like Star Wars offer a good shakeup to the dwindling blockbuster lineup.
Director Alex Garland (Ex Machina) uses his talent as a science-fiction mastermind to create his next film, Annihilation.
A tense, mind-boggling thriller, Annihilation (based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer) is by no means a masterpiece. Its biggest flaw comes in its pacing.
Essentially, the film deals with five military scientists investigating “The Shimmer,” a mysterious quarantined zone full of mutating landscapes and creatures. As they explore this area, things go horrifically wrong, as per sci-fi-horror rules.
The story is well-written, with the sense of time being played with extensively. Scenes are sometimes out of sequence, either as dreams or flashbacks, though it is not easily distinguishable. The viewer is never aware of what is actually going on which, of course, can be an issue. However, that is not as much of a detriment as the pacing. The film takes a while before anything occurs and the main action picks up after a certain period of time.
Once that action commences, it is absolutely stunning. The scenery is beautifully rendered, with vivid colors that accentuate what is going on.
The creature designs are also memorable, albeit a little artificial-looking. The moments where the leads face off against these monstrous beings seems like something straight out of a classic horror game.
It is that sense of tension that makes Annihilation so unique. Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson and Tuva Novotny all sell this film with their notable performances.
As mentioned earlier, Annihilation is not perfect. The pacing is awful and some story elements drag on for no reason. It makes up for its flaws in its visuals, tension and ambition.
These days, it is hard to find a wide-release film that can offer some visual splendor and a thought-provoking story. So, when a movie like this comes out, it is easy to appreciate it.
For those looking for their next sci-fi fix and were burned by Alien Covenant or Netflix’s The Cloverfield Paradox, Annihilation provides the right amount of scares and aesthetic value.
Hopefully, Alex Garland sets his sights on film adaptations for the likes of The Last of Us or Resident Evil.
